Recognising qualifications in Francia

Determine whether your profession is regulated in France

Check the official French list of regulated professions via Service-Public.fr or France Éducation International. Regulated professions require formal recognition from the relevant competent authority before you may practise. If your profession is not regulated, FEI can issue an attestation de comparabilité for employer use, but no formal recognition decision is needed.

Identify the competent authority

For regulated professions, the competent authority is the national Ordre for that profession (for example the Ordre des Médecins for doctors, the Ordre des Architectes for architects). For purely academic degree comparability, the competent authority is France Éducation International. Contact the Ordre directly to confirm any profession-specific documentation requirements.

Gather and translate your documents

Typical documents required include: original degree certificate and official transcripts, a certified French translation by a sworn translator (traducteur assermenté), a copy of your passport or identity document, a detailed curriculum vitae, and an apostille or legalisation of your diploma depending on the issuing country. Some Ordres also require proof of professional experience and a criminal-records extract. Check the specific document list with your Ordre before submitting.

Submit the application to the relevant Ordre or FEI

Send your complete application package to the Ordre des Professions or to France Éducation International depending on your profession. Many Ordres now accept online applications; others require paper dossiers by post. The four-month statutory decision clock starts from the date the authority receives your complete dossier. Keep proof of submission.

Await the assessment decision

The competent authority compares your foreign qualification against the French reference qualification for the profession. Under EU Directive 2005/36/EC as transposed by French law, the authority must decide within four months of receiving a complete application for regulated professions. Possible outcomes are: full recognition (reconnaissance complète), partial recognition requiring a compensation measure, or refusal with written reasons.

Complete any required compensation measure

If partial recognition is granted, you will be required to choose between an aptitude test (épreuve d'aptitude) or an adaptation period (stage d'adaptation) of up to three years. The Ordre sets the content and conditions. Once you pass or complete the compensation measure, full recognition is granted. For certain professions, only one type of compensation measure may be offered.